These include operations currently managed by Kiama Tourism.

Meanwhile, Kiama Tourism members will soon vote on the organisation’s future following the funding cut. 

According to council, tourism and major events annually generates around $147 million for the local economy, employing approximately 740 people. 

At their December meeting, Kiama council opted to review the structure and funding of tourism in the Kiama Local Government Area. 

At Tuesday’s meeting, council resolved to establish its own Tourism and Events business unit to manage all tourism-related activities.

“Council recognises that the hybrid structure we have had in place since 2015 has not achieved the outcomes we expected,” Kiama Mayor Mark Honey said. 

“A recent review of the structure and operations of tourism in the region, including submissions from tourism operators, confirmed the need for a single tourism body.”

Under the current model, council manages strategic tourism marketing and major events while Kiama Tourism manages on-ground services such as the Kiama Visitors Centre.

Cr Honey said having a single body managing both the marketing and operational aspects of tourism, such as the Visitors Centre, had a number of advantages.

“There will be greater efficiencies, increased accountability to ratepayers and the tourism sector and improved co-ordination between the strategic, marketing and operational staff,” he said. 

“Another key benefit is that tourism operators, industry groups and other government agencies (such as Destination NSW), will now have a single point of contact for tourism in our area.”

More than $400,000 is expended annually on visitor information services and marketing, including about $50,000 each year generated by Kiama Tourism’s members. 

Council expended approximately $350,000 directly on tourism in the 2015/2016 budget year.

Kiama Tourism is an industry-based tourism organisation established in 1986.

In 2014, council commissioned a report by tourism consultant Jenny Rand on the review of the structure and funding of tourism services in the Kiama LGA.

Following this, council employed a tourism marketing manager on a two-year contract arrangement, to enable a review of the arrangement after the two-year period.

Council and Kiama Tourism also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding which set out their respective responsibilities.

According to council’s report, despite the separate arrangements under the MOU causing some overlap and confusion in the tourism sector on who to contact and work with in relation to tourism-related matters, there have been a number of projects carried out and achievements.

These included the development of a strategic tourism and marketing plan, and the attraction, development and support of significant events including the Red Hot Summer Tour and World Junior Surfing Championships.

While assuming functions carried out by Kiama Tourism, council will now maintain an advisory committee to help guide its tourism operations.

The committee will comprise industry representatives, councillors and the general manager of Kiama council.

“Council will work with Kiama Tourism to assist with the transition to the new tourism structure,” Cr Honey said. 

This transition period is to run until June 30. 

Council also pledged to review the performance of this structure by June 2019. 

At the March meeting, councillor Matt Brown said it was a priority to “make sure that tourism is in one tent, and that we can go forward to attract more people here, make our region the events capital of NSW”. 

Lisa Kelsey, operations manager for Kiama Tourism said Tourism had its board meeting on Wednesday night. 

She said because they were a membership-based organisation, their members were required to vote as to whether to wind up the company or establish any future direction of the organisation. 

A special meeting is set for May 3, when members will vote on the matter, including whether the company can continue in some form. 

“Obviously this isn’t the outcome that Kiama Tourism wanted,” she said.

“Essentially it has been forced upon us. After 30 years its very disappointing that it has come to that.

“But our main focus is our staff, our members and continuing the best thing for tourism in the region.”